Being without Brockers a big loss for Ravens
One morning in early April 1997, former Ravens owner
Art Modell slowly walked into the media room of the team’s old training facility. It took him seemingly forever to move about
20 yards, as if he had just heard terrible news about his best friend.
Modell’s face was red with embarrassment and anger.
Without looking up, he explained that
Sorry Ravens But ‘I’m Going, Going, Back Back, To Cali, Cali,’ ” Brockers wrote Friday on Instagram.
Because of the NFL’s coronavirus restrictions, the Ravens have not been allowed to send medical personnel to examine players or host players in their facility. Defensive end Calais Campbell, whose trade to the Ravens and contract extension had highlighted the team’s makeover of its defensive line, told reporters Thursday that he’d had to undergo his physical at Arizona’s Mayo Clinic.
Brockers’ deal is the Ravens’ second in three years to fall apart because of injury concerns.
In 2018, the team voided a four-year, $29 million agreement with wide receiver Ryan
Grant after he failed a physical. Like Brockers, Grant had suffered an ankle injury in his 2017 regular-season finale with the Washington Redskins.
Grant later signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts and finished the year with 35 catches for 334 yards. He played in just two games for the Oakland Raiders last year.
With Brockers now off the Ravens’ books, the team has about $15 million in salary-cap space and a pressing need to readdress its defensive line. Of that cap space, several million dollars will be allocated for draft picks. The Ravens also prefer to enter every season with wiggle room for additional signings, but a week-and-a-half into free agency the pickings are slim.
Free-agent defensive tackle Michael Pierce signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings last week, while the Ravens traded defensive end Chris Wormley to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2021draft pick last Friday.
Defensive tackle Brandon Williams and Campbell are both strong starters, and Jihad Ward, Justin Ellis, Daylon Mack and Patrick Ricard can offer depth along the line. But the team will need to either sign a free agent or address the position through the draft next month.
Shelby Harris, 28, was one of the NFL’s more productive defensive ends last season, posting six sacks for the Denver Broncos, but he has started just 22 games in his five-year NFL career.
In the next tier of free agents are Mike Daniels, Timmy Jernigan, Christian Covington and Derek Wolfe, all versatile — if flawed — options.
In the draft, Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa could be a tempting prospect at No. 28 overall. Oklahoma’s Neville Gallimore, Texas Christian’s Ross Blacklock and Auburn’s Marlon Davidson could also be options in the first two rounds.